EDITOR'S COMMENT: School's out

Kitchens & Bathrooms News,
Editor Philippa Turrell

Soon after the summer holidays is a time usually associated with pupils returning to school and college. But sadly this may not be the case for Kitchen Installation students at WEBS Training in Nottinghamshire. Due to a change in Government rules, which sees the apprenticeship qualifications having to double in length, it means the courses are now more expensive to run. And, sadly, it could be the kitchen installation courses are no longer viable for its provider WEBS Training. It’s potentially a tragic blow for our industry, which has struggled to get the need for industry training recognised in the first place. And it also puts into perspective any wrangles over the focus of industry training – which critics had slammed for not focusing on design enough. What was a starting point in industry training certainly had to be better than none at all.

But even more importantly it signifies a huge hole in the kitchen industry career path. With fewer qualifications available, it could mean there is less chance of the kitchen industry being seen as a profession. While kitchen specialists are undoubtedly experts, a lack of a formal education could see them perceived as less knowledgeable than allied design professionals - even in their own field.

And how is the kitchen industry (or bathroom for that matter) going to attract new talent? Without a career path, carved by formal qualifications, how can the trade attract school-leavers or graduates? Affiliated trades such as architecture and interior design have created celebrity status professionals and sealed their status as coveted careers. Could it mean, then, that these will become a natural path – or even (dare I say it) the only future path - into kitchen and bathroom retail and design?

As an industry we should – and must – join together to support what training initiatives are available. Now, more than ever, we have to back the kitchen installation apprenticeships still on offer through North Tyneside Training Service and Mortimore Enterprises in Liverpool. And we must continue to lend our support to the likes of the kbbNTG, to help create formal training procedures in kitchen and bathroom studies.

The kitchen and bathroom industry is vibrant and design-rich. And it is now about time we showed the rest of the world just how professional it can be!

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Kitchen apprenticeships closure is a ‘travesty’

Apprenticeships in Kitchen Installation are under threat at WEBS Training in Nottingham, seeing all future courses cancelled, in a move that the kbbNTG has labelled a ‘travesty’.

Changes in rules by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), which provides funding for the apprenticeships, mean the Kitchen Installation courses no longer meet its terms from August 1. It demands that 12 months study are required for the NVQ Level 2 and a further 12 months study for Level 3, doubling the length of the course and making it more expensive to run.

The full-time Kitchen Installation Courses currently run for 12 months and see candidates paid £90 per week, by WEBS, to gain an NVQ Level 2 or NVQ Level 3 in making and installing furniture (kitchens).

Training director of WEBS Training Peter Sisson commented: "Three years ago we started a scheme with full support of the SFA and approved by Ofsted, where we employed apprentices on a full time Kitchen Installation course. We were increasingly seeing the demand for Kitchen fitters and a desire by young people to gain entry into the industry but were unable due to lack of experience. Most kitchen fitters are either self-employed or part of a small team and were therefore unable to take the risk of employing an apprentice. WEBS are a none profit making business, working solely with the furniture and associated industries, and were therefore in a position to support these young people.

He continued: "After spending the first few months in house learning the basics of kitchen fitting, Apprentices are placed out with fitter having real experience in customers houses. WEBS continue to pay the Apprentice during this time so there is no risk to the fitter."

However, the new ruling will mean that it will be too prohibitive in cost for WEBS to now run. Peter Sisson added: "Our course will therefore have to change to 24 months. Every Apprentice of the scheme has at least two new kitchens as part of their course as well as numerous practice pieces entirely at Webs costs. Increasing the course to 24 months will obviously double the cost of running it with no increase in funding and therefore becomes unsustainable".

Around 40 apprentices have already been trained through the programme and 20 are currently on courses.

WEBS has worked with the kbbNTG since its inception, eight years ago. Renee Mascari commented that the KBB NTG was also working with WEBS Training on an apprenticeship framework for kitchen design, which is now unlikely to come to fruition.

The training provider had also recently opened a £2.5million training facility, part funded by the SFA, with a 'considerable area' dedicated to kitchen installation.

Chief executive of the kbb NTG Renee Mascari has provided letters of support for the courses from the kbbNTG and the Kitchen & Bathroom Forum, but to no avail.

Sisson added: "We are currently looking at all options and have had numerous discussions with the SFA and National Apprenticeship service who say they support our programme and value it highly but cannot allow us to break the new rules. We were hoping to take on a group of school leavers in the next few weeks but this has now been put on hold until a way forward can be found."

Renee Mascari is 'gutted' about the SFA decision, having declared: "It’s a travesty of the first order. How can we introduce any new people into our industry, if [Government] has tied our hands, feet and mouth together?”

She is now calling for the kitchen and bathroom industry to pull together and offer their support to petition over the withdrawal of funding for the WEBS Kitchen Installation apprenticeship. Email Renee Mascari, of the kbb NTG, for more information.

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